7 complaints reported

2018 Buick Enclave Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
7
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while stopped at a gas station; after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle was restarted but was unable to shift to drive(D). The contact attempted to shift to reverse(R) and the shift lever failed to respond. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2025
May 2025

The torque converter is failing it seems this is far too common and dangerous with all Buick enclaves for this year. The vehicle shakes when applying the gas not having the power it needs to keep a steady speed without shaking. A mechanic stated the torque converter is bad known as the “GM shutter”

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2025
Oct 2022

For 6 months I have had a shutter in the front part of my car. When I accelerate the car violently shakes. The car was under bumper Bumper warranty when this problem started. I have taken it to my dealer on multiple occasions and they and their engineers cannot determine what is causing the problem. They have had several other enclaves come in with the same issues. They replaced my transmission among other things and nothing fixes it. I have contacted buick headquarters and I am only permitted to speak to customer service who only tells me the same thing that my dealership tells me. I am frustrated and don't know what to do. The problem is getting worse. The dealership says they are working with engineers and they cant seem to find the problem. I'm told my dealership has 6 other buick enclaves with the same issue and other dealerships he had some as well. There has been no warning icons show up.I have no copies of paperwork where my dealership has worked on my vehicle, but they have everything in their computer. My dealership is Bob Ross in Centerville, Ohio. I'm not sure if this is a safety issue or could become one since no one seems to know what is wrong with my vehicle.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2021
Mar 2022

Place car in park, went into store, came back out tried to put car in reverse, car would. To go, tried it two more time, car would. To go in reverse. Turned car off, put in drive , would go in drive, put in reverse, car would go, but the engine light came on and stayed on until later that day. Took car to the dealer that Monday morning, (Onstar notification says engine or transmission problem, park brake assist light came on a few times flashing on dashboard.dealer tells me first, needs to change transmission fluid. Then told me it is the solenoid switch in the transmission. Dealer calls National auto care(my warranty) and tells them that the problem, warranty wants the cause and part#. Dealer came out to look at car, stated don’t drive because their is slim metal shavings in transmission fluid. No one can tell me where it’s coming from. And the warranty company will not replace the transmission. So here I am paying a car note and a warranty. No fix

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2022
Oct 2020

SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A MONTH ON A 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE THAT AIR CONDITIONING UNIT/EVAPORATOR IN VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING AND VEHICLE IS BLOWING HOT AIR ONLY. THIS OCCURS WHETHER VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST POWERED ON OR OVER AN EXTENDED DRIVE (45 MINS). DOES NOT OSCILLATE WITH CHANGE IN SPEED. DOES NOT OSCILLATE WITH LENGTH OF DRIVE. HOT AIR BLOWS THE ENTIRE TIME AND NOISE COMES FROM DASH THAT SOUNDS LIKE HYDRAULIC DOOR HINGE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2020
Dec 2019

I PURCHASED A NEW 2018 ENCLAVE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE VEHICLE SOMETIME DURING THE SPRING 2019 SO I WENT TO MY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO GET IT CHECK AND I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN IN SEPTEMBER I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. ASAP. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE I HAD LESS THAN 5,000 MILES THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING. IT'S BEEN 4 MONTHS AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE READY. MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BECAUSE I RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, WHICH PUT MY FAMILY AND I AT RISK. THE SAME DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO GIVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE THAT ENDED UP BEING DEFECTIVE AS WELL. THIS DEALERSHIP IS SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT ABOUT 50 OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE AND THE ONLY I CAN DO IS BE PATIENT, BUT DURING THE TIME I HAVE INCURRED MANY DAMAGES AND INCONVENIENCE AND THIS DEANSHIP ALONG WITH GM HAVE NOT GIVEN ME ANY SORT OF RESOLUTION FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2019
Mar 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SUSS BUICK GMC DEALER (866-608-5251, 1301 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 200.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Buick Enclave has 7 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.